There's something to be said about a room that's light and bright. Our feature photograph, courtesy of CIL Paints, is no exception. The colour palette in this room gives you a sense of casual comfort and charm. It's a summery, beachside look that is elegant but not fussy.
The sky blue wall colour (CIL Siesta) is crisp and cool and bodes well against the soft white trim and the light flooring. One might consider this lovely blue colour for a bedroom or powder room but it works just as well in this living room setting. Considering colours outside of your comfort zone will give you more options when planning to redecorate. Keep this in mind.
If you're considering a similar décor change, you'll want to bring in grounding elements so the space doesn't look too pretentious or cute. You want a grown-up space befitting your lifestyle. In our feature room, the accessories help make the space mature and sophisticated. There is an eclectic mix of tribal masks, ornate mirrors and colourful vases and artwork. The dark brown toss cushion and lampshade are a good choice versus light blue or white, for example. I'd probably go with a darker area carpet but the one in the photograph may well have been the jumping off point for the entire colour scheme.
Work with what you have.
A touch of texture
The wicker occasional tray-table has a nice casual quality, which balances the formality of the dining table in the background. It provides texture as do the floor plant and dried grass in the large vase. Texture is needed in this area because there is little texture to be found in the smooth furniture upholstery and low pile area rug. The lack of window treatments is a pleasing effect but again, no texture. A simple way to add texture to a space like this would be by adding a decorative chenille furniture throw to the chair.
And about those windows...
The windows in this room are amazing and provide architectural detail along with tons of natural light. The lack of window treatments was a calculated choice to feature the lovely paint colour. In reality, most of us need some sort of window treatment. In a room like this, you'd want to choose treatments in keeping with the look. If you have great windows then opt for treatments that fit inside the window frame. White, custom Plantation shutters, custom shades or even simple café curtains would fit the bill. Depending upon your needs, you could also treat the actual window panes with a sandblasted or temporary frosted detail. If your windows are less than spectacular then choose simple, floor-length drapery panels that will add dimension and a bit of texture if needed. In our feature room, a fawn-coloured faux suede treatment would look fantastic, for example.
Architectural detail
Our feature room abounds with architectural detail. While your home may not have all of these features, you can add to what you all ready have to create a little more drama. The decorative pillars, for example, are lovely and create visual division between the two spaces. Decorative pillars can be purchased at most home supply stores and are made of materials that can be cut to fit your needs, in most cases. You can also make pillars from sono-tubes by painting them in a faux finish, like marble. (This project takes a little practice.) You'll notice the pillar against the wall in our photo is cut in half vertically to fit the space. Both of the composite pillars (from the home supply store) or the sono-tube can be cut to fit a similar situation. If you don't have room for a complete pillar you could still make a grand statement by using two halves installed on a feature wall or entry way.
Windows, doors and baseboards
As I've mentioned in past articles, adding trim to existing doors, windows and baseboards can transform them from dull to dramatic. It can be a fussy job because of all of the corner cuts and exact measurements but if you're good at this sort of task then it's worth the effort. Once you've beefed up the trim, simply fill in any small gaps with paint-able wood filler and paint the entire surface in one colour to unify the look.
The fireplace in the background of our photo is no slacker when it comes to additional detail either. If you have a fireplace that needs a little drama, you can purchase ready-made mantels that can help you create the drama you desire. Do some research on the type of materials you can safely use when adding trim and decorative elements to a fireplace. Safety first.
The half wall at the entryway in our photo also benefits from architectural touches. This feature is common in many homes from the 1960s and is often a bone of contention. Often there is decorative glass on the top half (usually in a dated gold colour) or spindles that are too fussy. If you can, remove anything on the top portion of such a wall and treat the bottom half with a decorative element (such as wainscoting) and a fresh coat of paint. Adding a decorative ledge will not only add to the look but will also help cover up any unfinished surfaces left by removing the top half treatment. Because this is such a small area to treat, you can spend a little more for high-end details and get a lot of bang for your buck.
Turn dark and gloomy into light and breezy with soft paint colours and neutral touches. It's a look that is both relaxing and sophisticated.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
